Xbox @ E3 - Maxi Geek Wrap Up

So this morning I was lucky enough to sit in the audience of the Xbox E3 Press Event and needless to say it was a great experience. Not only was the atmosphere great, but the games that they showed also wowed. Well for the most part.

They started out strong showing off a live demo of Call Of Duty Advance Warfare and not only did the game look beyond stunning it also showed off more detail to the characters than they have had in sometime. Modern Warfare 2 was the last real game that I felt the characters were actual characters rather than props in a story and with this they seem more alive than ever.



Once the demo had ended and people's ears were able to adjust to the silence after the demo, we were then treated to Dan Greenwalt talking about Forza 5 and bringing the Nurburgring to Forza players, starting today and for free. Then we were treated to a nice look at Forza Horizo 2, featuring over 200 cars and dynamic weather and day and night cycle. Running on the same engine that powered Forza 5 the game looks incredible.



The game will take your existing Forza 5 Drivatar and take it into Horizon, in fact its already working in Horizon 2, which is pretty awesome. From the bright sun lit world of Horizon 2 to a dark, dank cave where 4 players will take on the monster in Evolve. Evolve is a game that I don't know a hugh amount about it but it does look incredible.

After that we were treated to a live demo of Assassins Creed Unity, which turns out its not a code name, it actually refers to the 4 player co-op that the game now supports. As the demo went forward, more and more players joined in. With the little gang of assassins running around france they were able to take down multiple guards on the way to complete the mission.



Next up was Dragon Age Inquisition, a game that looks incredible, but after the less than great sequel I have not had much interest in this. However post this trailer and the ones from the EA Press Event, it is back on my radar.

Then we are taken to a warehouse where a soldier is crouching behind a crate while being shot at, until a door breaks down and the hero from Sunset Overdrive bursts through. Then we get a 4th wall breaking video explaining what the world of Sunset Overdrive is and what the game is.



Then we get a trailer that could only come from Japan, the reveal of an all new DLC for Dead Rising 3 called Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus. Yes that's the full title. It looks pretty cool and the best part is that its available now, so if you have the game jump on and start downloading it now.
Then Harmonix comes out and announces that Dance Central Spotlight is coming this October and will be download only for Xbox One. Players will be able to download new songs each week as they hit the top of the charts. Then we switched gears to Fable Legends, which to me was the let down of the show. The live demo was 4 player and while the game looks fine, it just looks more of the same that Fable is known for. It did improve when they announced that you can play as the villain. As the villain you can place where enemies or spells spawn, which does seem like some fun. Players who can't wait until Fable Legends releaes next year can jump into the multiplayer beta this holiday season.



Next up was Project Spark, the game where you can make a game. I have been participating in the beta for this and it is quite fun. So with over one million players already making games you would think that its all done, well not quite. Coming soon is Galaxies, adding space themed elements which allows you to create your very own mass effect type game and if that was not enough for you, Conker, every-ones foul mouthed squirel has joined the  cast of characters you can use.

Then we hit up a trailer for Ori and The Bling Forest, a game that does look very nice but was very light on details. Then the lights dimmed and we were assaulted with the almost legendary Halo chant, and then it was confirmed. Halo, The Master Chief Collection, containing Halo Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4 along side Halo Nightfall an all new digital tv series produced by Ridley Scott and Halo 5 Guardians Multiplayer Beta.



The collection contains a unified front end that has all the content unlocked from the get go and thats not all. As you sit in the lobby waiting to choose a map, you might choose a map from 2 and someone else might choose from 4. Meaning that no matter what map is selected the game will load up that engine and then that map.

After that we got a first look at the new game from PlayDead the makers of Limbo, which looks like it contains the same feel, a lot of people in the stands were very impressed by it. After this we got a more in depth look at the ID@Xbox program, which there are a lot of new games coming.



Then we get a small slice of therapy, where the Dr is talking to someone in a hoodie, questioning how they are feeling, not to remain inside, maybe get a hobby. This was inter-cut with footage of someone running through some jungle. This was the reveal for the next Tomb Raider game and it looks impressive. Of course its not out for sometime but Rise Of The Tomb Raider is going to be one too look out for.
Now we move onto one game that has the entire world talking, The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt, there is nothing that I can say about this game that will do it justice, so here is the demo.



Pretty amazing right? I am excited for it that's for sure. After this amazing demonstration Ken Lobb took to the stage and talked about how it was amazing to bring Killer Instinct back to players last year. He then mentioned that they were doing it again, but rather than explain he said the trailer would be a better explanation. The game is Phantom Dust and at least one guy in the stands was really excited for it.
Then we hit another demo for Ubisoft's The Division, which looks impressive showed us more of the same from last year. With the Ubisoft press event still to come, hopefully we see more of it. But for now it still stands as one of the best looking games coming to Xbox. We were then treated to a trailer for Scalebound and brand new Platinum Games, that is exclusive to the Xbox One.



Then to wrap up the event we were treated to an all new Crackdown and from the trailer we know its set in a new city and thats it.



Overall the Xbox event was solid, they presented nothing but games, no tv, no xbox live, no smart glass. They promised games and they delivered and as my first press event for E3 it was impressive beyond anything I could imagine.